Celebrating Independence Day Penn Ohio Style
Thursday, July 10, 2008

by Steven T. Handy

MEADVILLE, Pa. – The 36th edition of the Penn Ohio All Morgan Horse Show was held from July 4–6 at the Crawford Country Fairgrounds. A benefit show for the Crawford County 4-H Clubs, Penn Ohio offers a relaxed atmosphere to debut new show ring stars and fine tune others before reaching the apex of the northern summer show circuit, the New England Regional. This year, over 130 horses competed at the Penn Ohio Morgan Horse Show in the birthplace of the zipper, Meadville, Pa.

The relaxed atmosphere is due in part to the great hospitality provided by the horse show. Each morning there are donuts and coffee, as well as ice water available at all times in the hospitality building. There are also numerous parties for exhibitors. On Thursday night before the show began the show committee hosted a welcome party. Following the Saturday night performances, the show committee hosted their annual exhibitors’ party.

The Penn Ohio management encouraged amateurs and junior exhibitors to come to the show by offering an amateur package which included two shed row stalls, entry fees in two amateur, junior exhibitor or carriage classes and one in hand class, for only $75. In an effort to keep championship class numbers high, the management waved the post-entry fees in the open and amateur championships. They also awarded $100 to each of the riders placing first through fifth in all of the AMHA Medal classes to help defray the cost of competing at the Morgan Grand National or for educational purposes.

A high point during the weekend was Friday night’s UPHA Ladies English Pleasure Pink Ribbon class. Four teams rode in support of finding a cure and to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Research. Riding in honor of breast cancer survivor Linda Stewart, Shirley O’Gorman and Ultra’s My Girl bested the competitive class for the Wilber family. Meadville was “pinked out” Friday night as the show committed to donating $2 for each person in attendance wearing pink clothing. Also throughout the day, Diane Garrow, another member of Team O’Gorman, sold pink ribbon lapel pins for a $5 donation to the cure. All in all, over $1,100 was collected for the UPHA Pink Ribbon fund.

Julie Schmidt kept everything running smoothly as the show manager and the chair of the show committee. Barbra Dunham served as the show secretary, while Shirley Nowak made sure everything was by the rules as the show steward. Greener Pastures Vet Clinic served as show veterinarian and Adam Pendleton was the show farrier. Jack Dougherty kept the ring in order as ringmaster, while Carl Gatz kept everything running smoothly in the warm up area as paddock master. Bob Klinefelter made sure the audience was informed as the show ring announcer and Amy Paradise was the organist.

The show ring highlights of the 36th edition of the Penn Ohio All Morgan Horse Show follow along with complete results that can also be found at www.saddlehorsereport.com.

The in-hand division kicked off a fun week of classes at the Crawford County Fairgrounds. Headlined by the mares, the division was packed with large numbers in many of the classes. Little Bit Of Reggae was the mare of the hour claiming the title Grand Champion Mare and the Nonesuch Morgan’s Rotating Trophy after wins in the Senior Champion Mare and the Three-Year-Old Mare class. Jim McCleaster led this expressive daughter of Born To Boogie and Maple Ridge Kay Lani for owner Daniel Allgyer. From the junior division, Cum Laude Philadelphia stepped up to claim the Reserve Grand Champion Mare tricolor after winning the Junior Champion Mare and Two-Year-Old Mare titles.

LPS MVP made his show ring debut a memorable one for owner/breeder Lynn Peeples and his trainer Nancy Flower. Trotting into show ring, MVP was reminiscent of his father Man In Motion as he stuck a pose and modeled with ease. MVP edged out the aged geldings as he went onto claim the Grand Champion Gelding honors and the Nonesuch Morgan’s Rotating Trophy to the delight of the audience. MVP is also out of Maple Ridge Kay Lani, and certainly a tribute to the fine producing mare. Alphastar Wilberforce started off a great week by taking the Reserve Grand Champion Gelding title back to the Heatherstone stall fronts for owner Allan Fisher.

The athletic son of Cy Don’s Mr. Aristocrat, CBMF Heir Apparent, was awarded the Westfield Farm Rotating Trophy and Grand Champion Stallion honors for owner Kelli Dreher. Led by Tim O’Gorman, Heir Apparent was also victorious in the Junior Champion Stallion and Two and Under Colts class. From the senior division, Trebles Double Exposure claimed the Reserve Grand Champion Stallion title as well as the Senior Champion Stallion tricolor and the five and over blue with Sharon Skelly presenting.

At 7 p.m. on Saturday night, six excited yearlings burst through the in-gate to vie for the title of Penn Ohio Morgan Breeders’ Sweepstakes Yearling Champion. After the yearlings were presented individually for Judge Wich, announcer Bob Kleinfelder made the call, the victor was Rosedust Ice On First. Sired by MI Black Ice and out of the mare Rosedust Electric Velvet, Ice On First was presented by his owners and breeders, Pete and Marsha Seward of Summerfield, Ohio. Justin Horn showed his homebred entry, Hornes Daring Victory to the reserve honors. Out of the mare Dare To Challenge and by HFF Victory Lane, this exciting youngster will be fun to watch mature.

After a victorious show ring return at the Gold Cup Regional, Arboria Top Gun continued to shine at Penn Ohio with junior exhibitor Samantha Brobst. This exciting new team captured the Park Saddle Championship and the Snail’s Pace Acres Rotating Trophy in winning form for Lookaway Farm and Jim and Linda Stewart. This big win came after a blue ribbon performance in the Junior Exhibitor Park Saddle class as trainer and instructor Kathleen Flower looked on. Alphastar Wilberforce continued his successful Penn Ohio with Michelle McCleester to collect the reserve tricolor following a blue in both the Park Saddle Junior Horse and Park Harness Junior Horse classes for owner Allan Fisher.

Cherrydale Casseopia burst on to the show scene this year at Southern States in the in hand division. She made her performance debut in the Penn Ohio Morgan Breeders’ Sweepstakes Three-Year-Old Park Saddle Sweepstakes with a sensational performance. Sired by Minion Millennium and out of Cherrydale Gabriella, Casseopia split a purse of $3,300 with the owner of the stallion at the time of breeding Mike Pocobello of Minion Morgans. The fiery mare, owned and bred by Dr. Robin Molaskey-Herrick, was presented to victory by Kathleen Peeples of Waterford Farm.

The English pleasure division saw Ultra’s My Girl and Shirley O’Gorman take the big prize home to Ohio in the English Pleasure Championship. The Wilber family’s elegant mare also topped the UPHA Pink Ribbon class, opening an exciting Friday night performance. Kayla Rorabaugh had Cheryl Brooks’s striking HB Impressions In Town in good form to earn the reserve tricolor in the open championship.

Kathleen Peeples continued Waterford Farm’s winning weekend as she directed LPS Ultra Sweet to the Junior English Pleasure Championship. Expressive and sporty, Ultra Sweet is owned by George and Ashley Young. Following a win in the Junior English Pleasure Mares class, Little Bit Of Reggae and Michelle McCleaster took the reserve tricolor streamers back to the Heatherstone stall fronts for owner Daniel Allgyer.

The Penn Ohio Morgan Horse Breeders’ Three-Year-Old English Pleasure Sweepstakes was topped by Nonesuch Enchanting Elana with Kimberly Hayes up. Sired by Nonesuch Fire N Fury and out of the mare Nonesuch Naughty Nora, Elana was consistent and exciting in her performance debut. Owners Jennifer and Kimberly Hayes split $3,300 with stallion owner and the breeder of Elana, Carolyn Warman.

Steve Lehr rode King Lehr’s Bravado to the tricolor streamers in the Amateur English Pleasure Championship following a win in the stallion and gelding qualifying class for owner Sandra Benko. Courtney Segulin followed her junior exhibitor tricolor with a reserve in the amateur championship with PKW Personality for proud owner Stacey Buehler.

DM Irresista-Bell and Courtney Segulin topped the competitive English Pleasure Junior Exhibitor Championship following a blue ribbon performance in the English Pleasure Junior Exhibitor 14-17 qualifying class. The versatile Alyssa Williams and WTS Shoot To Thrill took the reserve tricolor streamers back to Williams Training Stables.

Diane Garrow had a great drive with Cum Laude Nell to claim the Pleasure Driving Championship as trainers Tim and Shirley O’Gorman looked on rail side. This impressive showing followed a win in the lone entry Amateur Pleasure Driving Mares class. They were followed by the open mares winner LPS Last Dance and trainer Craig Hummell driving for Tim and Carole Selinsky.

The entries trained by Nancy Flower continued their winning show as Flower teamed with Carolyn Warman’s Nonesuch Burning Desire to win the Junior Horse Pleasure Driving Championship. This three-year-old has a show ring presence beyond his age, a signature trademark of Nancy Flower’s youngsters. CBMF Crime Of Passion and trainer Mike Grimes drove to the reserve championship for owner Claudia Grimes, earlier in the week this team topped the Pleasure Driving Three-Year-Old qualifying class.

Following a great team debut at Gold Cup, Minion Valentino and Linda Stewart made another fine showing in Meadville to claim the Amateur Pleasure Driving Championship honors. Kathleen Flower had this team in winning form as earlier in the weekend as they had a blue ribbon drive in the qualifying class. CKH Lexington and owner Tim Jenkins trotted out with the reserve tricolor under the direction of Craig and Kathy Hummell after a win in the Open Pleasure Driving Stallion and Gelding class.

It was Christmas in July as Beth Wilber rode the personable gelding White Christmas to the Classic Pleasure Saddle Championship for owner Stephen Smith. Directed by Tim and Shirley O’Gorman, this team also picked up the blue prize in the Classic Pleasure Saddle Novice Rider class. After a blue ribbon performance, Tina Babnis and her partner Runnymeades Silhoutte trotted away with the reserve tricolor.

Lori Sargeant had her own HFF Thrill Seeker in good form to capture the Classic Pleasure Driving Championship tricolor and stallion/gelding blue ribbon. This well turned-out team is under the tutelage of the Craig and Kathy Hummell. It was a one-two punch for the Hummell family as Tim Selinsky drove Aquila’s Gunsmoke to the reserve tricolor streamers following a win in the competitive Classic Pleasure Driving Junior Horse class. Sydney Kent and CKH Rare Beauty made a nice showing for the third place ribbon in the championship following a win in the Junior Exhibitor Classic Pleasure Driving class.

Cindy Brown Clark’s newest hunter SPM Fortune’s Delite topped Judge Kathryn Schwartz’s card in the Hunter Pleasure Championship with perennial hunter pleasure winner Kathleen Peeples. This elegant new team also took home the flowers in the Ladies Hunter Pleasure class with a very polished ride. Molly Lynn O’Guinn had her own WOF Aprils Wyndsong in top order to claim the reserve tricolor in the championship.

Qua-Drangle and Ashley Jones took home the spoils in the Amateur Hunter Pleasure Championship for trainer Jennifer Carr. Amateur//owner/trainer Tina Fedoruk and WLA Medley’s Pride were the pride of Meadville as they made the reserve championship pass down victory lane. This followed a big win in the Hunter Pleasure Stallion and Gelding qualifying class.

In one of the most competitive hunter pleasure classes, JW High In Command and Annilee Obrochta headlined the Junior Exhibitor Hunter Pleasure Championship. This followed a reserve in the Junior Exhibitor Hunter Pleasure 14-17 class with trainer Sue Gramse instructing from the rail. Kendra Peeples continued her successful show season as she and her partner WSG Mystic Impression took the reserve championship victory pass after a blue ribbon ride earlier in the show for proud parents and trainers Lynn and Kathleen Peeples.

Heatherstone Last Dance made the last pass as the tricolor winner in the Junior Hunter Pleasure Championship with Michelle McCleester presenting for Lisa Brown. Qualifier winner Lookaway’s On The Mark and Amy Bessey added the reserve tricolor for owner Kathryn Daly.

HL Rienzi and Kathleen Peeples brought down the house in the Western Pleasure Championship for owner and breeder Holly Seavitt. This exciting win followed a great performance in the Western Pleasure Stallion and Gelding qualifying class. Amateur/owner/trainer Jaynee Clark and Key Attitude concluded a good show with the reserve championship tricolor in the Western Pleasure Championship to add to her growing collection. Earlier in the weekend Clark and her impressive mount picked up with Amateur Western Pleasure Championship tricolor and the blue ribbon in the Amateur Western Pleasure Stallion and Gelding class. Following this impressive team in the amateur championship was TCS Supreme Aire and Brittany Clark who were the victors in the Western Pleasure Amateur Owned and Trained class.

Kathleen Flower and Patchwork Broadway were the staring team in the Junior Western Pleasure Championship for owner Janet Siddle. Broadway and Flower also took a pass down victory lane in the Junior Western Pleasure Stallion and Gelding qualifying event. This consistent and showy team will be one to watch for in the upcoming months. Reserve in the junior championship was Jeff Bessey and Cherrydale Finnigan for owner and breeder Dr. Robin Molaskey-Herrick.

The equitation division allowed the area’s best to compete for tricolor honors and hard-earned titles. Topping the Hunt Seat Equitation Championship class was Valerie Davis aboard WNC Compadre Reflection. Instructed by Shara Davis, Davis made all the right moves to also claim the blue ribbon in the 14-17 qualifying class. Close on her heels was the reserve champion, Monica Tolliver moving up from a reserve placing in the 13 and under qualifier. Winning the AMHA Hunt Seat Medal on the Flat was Debra Jean Downs. Brittany Clark topped the AMHA Western Seat Medal, and Courtney Segulin was the victor in the AMHA Saddle Seat Medal.

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